Quarq CinQo Power Meter Review & Overview

Years in Business: Since 2006

U.S. Service Center: Yes. South Dakota.

Web Site: www.quarq.com

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We first saw a Quarq power meter at the SICI Cycling Science Symposium in 2007 and we were excited by the design and inquired soon after with Quarq about getting a unit.  They said they were not quite ready to ship, but would be soon.   We waited…  2007 passed and no CinQo…  Then 2008 and still no CinQo…   Things were a bit behind schedule.  We have to admit that we lost a bit of enthusiasm for the product during this time simply because things were not happening as expected. Thankfully, Quarq did eventually start to ship product.  While there are still some delays in availability as of 2010, we can tell you that they are shipping and the product has, so far, performed as promised.  This all means that Quarq is in a good position for the future as they have a good idea and so far the product they are shipping seems to work as promised.

The Quarq design takes some of SRM’s original design (crank mounted strain gauges), but uses an externally mounted sensor on the outside of the crankarm instead of the internally mounted/structural design SRM uses.  Like the SRM, Quarq’s design is limited to the crank models that they build their ten strain gauge based power meter with, so you have to “make do” with the cranks they offer.  While they do not offer the breadth of crank offering of SRM (and likely never will as the design requires a removable spider design), Quarq is making progress and expanding offerings.   There are currently some high quality crank options available in the Quarq CinQo and the severe gearing and crank model restrictions that initially existed are becoming less common.

Pros:

• • Can be used with any wheelset without having to buy another power meter.
• • Performance tested under the Cervelo Test Team
• • U.S. Service Center that is 100% dedicated to Quarq distribution and service.
• • With external bearing cranks, it is easier than ever to switch between bikes.
• • Priced below many of SRM’s crank mounted strain gauge options.
• • User replaceable batteries.
• • ANT+ Sport compatibility means you can use any ANT+ Sport head from Garmin, PowerTap and others.

Considerations:

• • Requires a removable spider crank design and thus it is not available in many cranksets from major players.  The Quarq CinQo currently is not available in a crankset from Shimano or Campagnolo.

• • Not as easy to change between bikes as a PowerTap, where you just need to change the wheel and computer head between the bikes. With a Quarq CinQo, you need to be able to change a crankset.
• • With strong options from Garmin and CycleOps, it is not as big a deal as it used to be, but Quarq does not produce their own computer head.
• •  Quarq does not supply software.  You will need to buy TrainingPeaks (which you would likely buy regardless  as it is better that what ships with most power meters) or some other software separately.
• • Availability limited on some models.
• • Company and product is young.

Accuracy: +/-2%.  The Quarq CinQo records data once every revolution of the crank.

Reliability/Maintenance: While it is still too early to tell the long-term reliability of the Quarq power meter, early reports are positive.  We know people close to the Cervelo Test Team who have been using the product since early 2009 that have said it has been reliable and accurate.   Maintenance is minimal and changing the standard CR2450 batteries is pretty easy and not required very frequently as battery life can reach 400 hours of use between changes.

Compatibility/Limitations: The Quarq CinQo will work on most any frame that accepts one of the cranks that it is available in.  Quarq has been adding cranks regularly, but the design requires a removable spider crank design currently and that eliminates some of the most popular and best shifting cranks on the market (Shimano…) from use.

Display Quality/Features: Quarq does not make computer heads.   The Quarq CinQo is ANT+Sport compatible and you can use it with any ANT+ Sport head of your choice from brands like Garmin and CycleOps.

Weight: The Quarq CinQo Power Meter is impressively light.  It only adds 90-110 grams to the regular crankset weight in most cases.  For example, a standard SRAM S900 crank and bottom bracket is about 890 grams and the S975 Quarq version of it is 985 grams.

Installation: Now that external bearing cranks are commonplace, it is pretty simple.  If you can remove and install your current crank arms, you can likely install a crankset with a Quarq CinQo.  It is important to note that the bottom bracket you are using may need to be changed in some cases if you change crank designs and this is a more involved task mechanically.

Software/Hardware: Quarq does not make software.  This being said, TrainingPeaks software is better than any other power meter software we have found and it is compatible with any Quarq power meter.

Conclusions: A promising design that is limited by the crank options it works with, but that has proven itself reliable to date.

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